Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese is encouraging community organisations across the Inner West to apply for grants under the Gillard Government’s $4.55 million Building Multicultural Communities Program.

Mr Albanese has welcomed the launch of the program which will provide funding for community organisations to purchase new equipment, undertake refurbishments and build new infrastructure.

“The Inner West is a vibrant multicultural area and the Federal Labor Government is committed to supporting our diverse multicultural communities,” Mr Albanese said.

This initiative follows the Federal Labor Government’s commitment to improve infrastructure that will build social inclusion and provide opportunities to bring together individuals and families in the community.

The Building Multicultural Communities Program includes two funding streams:

Stream 1: Grants between $1,000 and $10,000 to support non-fixed infrastructure and equipment projects including:

computers

printers

photocopiers

furniture

kitchen and sporting equipment.

Stream 2: Grants up to $150,000 to capital works and non-fixed infrastructure including:

multicultural hubs

purpose built buildings (e.g. community radio stations, performance studios)

meeting rooms that form part of a public building (e.g. community/multicultural

Applications for the funding open at 9am AEST on May 31 and close at 5pm AEST on June 28. Further information on the program is available on the department’s website at: www.immi.gov.au/bmcp.